Dr. Isabella Gonçalves
Dr. Isabella Gonçalves
Researcher - Journalist
I am a postdoctoral researcher at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, where my work focuses on digital political communication and journalism studies. Alongside my research, I serve as editor of the Political Communication Report and manage the websites and social media channels for the Political Communication divisions of APSA and ICA. I am also an active member of the DigiWorld network and the Digital Media and Society Observatory. I have expertise in data analysis, mixed-methods research, and project management.
My research examines the structural and discursive factors that contribute to the establishment and reinforcement of social divisions. I focus on issues such as divisive and negative political discourse, the underrepresentation of marginalized groups in digital political communication and legacy news media, and journalism safety.
Research interests: political communication, journalism studies, journalism safety, othering of outgroups, divisive issues in public discourse.
Contact:
igoncalves@uni-mainz.de
Institut für Publizistik, Jakob-Welder-Weg 12, 55099 Mainz
Room: Georg Forster-Gebäude 03.239
Phone: +49 6131 39 27794
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany)
10.2020 - 07.2024: Ph.D in Communication Sciences
Dissertation Title: ”Marginalized, Silenced, and Dehumanized: Migration Framing and Effects”
Summa Cum Laude
Supervisors: Yossi David and Oliver Quiring
01.2024 - Present
Research Associate of the Communication Science Research Group at the Department of Communication
10.2020 - 12.2023: DAAD Scholarship Holder
04.2021 - 09.2022: Research Assistant
Chair of Israel Professorship
Federal University of Juiz de Fora (Brazil)
03.2018 - 08.2019: Master of Arts in Communication
FAPEMIG Scholarship Holder
Acted as teaching assistant of Prof. Christina Musse in the course Investigative Journalism
03.2013 - 12.2017: Bachelor in Journalism
Holder of PET scholarship directed to undergrad research
Political Communication Divisions (APSA & ICA)
03.2025 - Present: Editor of the Political Communication Report
03.2025 - Present: Webmaster and Social Media Manager of the Polcomm Divisions
10.2021 - Present: Principal Investigator of the Brazillian team in Digiworld
Digital Media and Society Observatory
08-2022 - Present: Active member of the research network DMSO.
English (Proficient)
German (Proficient)
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
French (B1)
Spanish (B1)
DAAD Doctoral stipend
Minerva Short-term Research Grant
FAPEMIG Master Stipend
Undergraduate Research Scholarship (PET Facom)
Honorable Mention - 34th Human Rights Journalism Award (OAB, Brazil)